Tales of my NEW Commute

I have only lived in my new house for less than 2 weeks. In those 2 weeks all of my commutes have been broken up. I either ride to the pool then to work. –OR– I ride all the way to or from work –OR– I stop at the gym on the way home. I think MOST days I will have at least 1 way broken up.

Yesterday I locked my back door at 6:52 and clocked in at 7:31…Literally walked into work…right to the time clock. I am still deciding on the BEST ROUTE to take. The Tillamook “bike boulevard” is one block from our house. Which is AWESOME!! It is flat until the Broadway bridge. “Down” the bridge. Then I cruise “up” Broadway until I hit 6th to Terwilliger and work here I come. I was cruising Broadway about 7:05ish. I got a peace sign and a smile from what looked like a homeless person. I go through some yellow-red(ish) lights just to make it to the next yellow-redish light. I finally come to a stop when I need a break and a breath! It is hard to stop at red lights in the zero-dark-early morning commute!! 39 mins to work! NOT BAD! I am pretty sure that number is never going to change. I can try to get through lights all I want but I am never going to make it through all of them!

Today I rode home from work. Clocked out at 7:17…and walked in the back door at 7:53. The trip down Terwilliger is fast. It is down hill with only one light that I usually hit when red. I thank my lucky stars when I catch a green! Once I hit downtown it is (I think) always going to be a hit or miss. I cruise down 6th. I get the first 3 red lights out of 3 red lights. Wow it is going to be a long way “DOWN” 6TH! Then it happened. The MAX was cruising with me and when you cruise with the MAX: You get all green lights….UNTIL it has to make a stop! I did pretty good for a few more blocks then got stuck behind a truck going maybe 4 mph. Are you kidding me? All I want to do it get home and eat dinner! He turns! YES!!! I get to Burnside. I pretty good size thoroughfare. The lights are out. 4 way stop. HOPE everyone can see ME! As I pass through by myself…I made it through to tell the story. Then up the bridge was pretty uneventful. I start to sweat. All of a sudden I was back to the Tillamook bike boulevard. Home Sweet Home!! 36 mins home! NOT TOO BAD!

I go through 2 of these bike traffic lights. Makes me feel bad-ass! YEAH!

I guess it is all relative. The commute to work is more uphill but it does not take that much longer to get there then to get home! I do like the broken up factor because my saddle is not the best so it makes a difference. 🙂

What I think of the commute right now: Is it going to make me a better cyclist? Maybe. Is it going to make me more tired? Probably. Am I going to be sweaty both ways to and from work? Definitely.

In SWEETER news: I made some Chocolate Oatmeal Squares for a co-workers birthday. I adapted the recipe from How Sweet It Is. Another one of my go-to dessert blogs.

These were SUPER EASY to make. They CAN be Vegan if you sub Agave for the honey and use Earth Balance for the butter.

Does this make you want to commute by bike? How far is your commute?